When Love Is a Lie

Each in the morning, Whimey was waiting the the elevator when she heard the sound of a door opening behind her.

Out of the corners of her eyes, she saw Noel approaching but chose not to greet him. As soon as the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside without a glance back

The murred walls reflected the hs of them, one standing in front of the other. The silence was almost suffocating, broken only by the sound of the elevator descending Feeling the tension, Whimey couldn’t hold back any longer,” man arks you over again, could you please refinebi

She really didn’t want to face the same we situation as hast time.

“Am I that en bewable Noel asked back.

“No, I just think or shouldn’t get too close. You know what I m

Nel towed over her by almost a hood and a halt. He good down at her through the mirror. “There’s only one way not to get close. Either you don’t marry into the Howard

amily or 1culties with them.”

In other words, she could only word him if she broke off her engagement or if Neleased to be part of the Howard family.

Whime bebeved there had to be other solutions. Noel was clearly making things difficult for her

She met his gaze in the mirror and said indignantly, “But you’re already estranged from the Howard family, aren’t you? That should make it easier. Just avoid me or stay away

whimey knew that ever since Noel and his parents had moved out of the Howard residence, they rarely went back. There was no need to go to such extremes.

into a mocking smile. “You’re just unwilling to give up

deep, pleating her heart like

did their eight years together mean he

he did

felt wronged but didn’t want to show her vulnerability to Noel Sheered, “Yes, you’re right, I’m just too attached to the title of Mrs.

bolledower, tristing painfully inside her. The years of suppression

see the car approaching behind

by a strong force. Then, she fell

killed? Noel scolded above her

were strong. He held her tightly with one hand while

wild night flashedthrough Whitney’s mind,

Noel released her. After a brief pause, he said coldly, “I’ll

then turned and walked toward his

a daze, watching him drive off. She didn’t move until his car had disappeared from sight and then

the parking lot, the Black Rolls–Rayre hidden

tension, the driver asked cautiously,

replaying

he couldn’t see Whimney’s face, he had seen Noel’s expression all too clearly–ball of longing yet tempered by restraint. His

Damian, but his expression grew eerily calm. “Go to

just parked her car and was waiting for the elevator when Damian walked

baklast,” he said with a grille smile, handing it to her.